Rex Imperia was a towering figure, seven feet tall and very well built with a large frame, exuding regality and wearing no robe but only a shiny plate armour that had red inlaid carvings. On his finger, a ring that had the royal seal. He had high cheekbones and a stern look with wavy auburn hair. He donned no visor and only the shiny plate armour could be seen in the sunlight as it glistened. He was accompanied by a slim and yet well-built man donning similar plate armour but with much less intricate patterns. Both of them sported similar features. This other person was the Primus Praetorian.
Guards lined up in attention as the Rex walked through with the man beside him everyone felt the pressure as the man kept striding toward the mass of people.
Reitz Immediately prostrated himself in honour of the Rex as all the other people bowed at the majesty and power of the Rex Imperia.
"Your Majesty, We never expected you to deign us with your presence," Reitz said humbly.
"Rise, Earl Blackyre, what nonsense are you saying. Of course, I would be here, you invited me didn't you? Hahaha," The Rex roared in laughter, "Come, Reitz, when can I see your boy? Eh"
"Your Majesty, We haven't fully prepared yet. The ceremony will take place this afternoon. Ezra needs a little more time."
"Oh is he awake or is he having a tantrum? Haha, that won't do. I have seen many a Day of Introduction. There was one time the baby started puking all over it was unpleasantly hilarious. Do make sure that your son is healthy before the ceremony. I'll be staying for three days by the way."
"Yes your majesty, I shall prepare your rooms at once."
Reitz was sweating all over he did not expect the Rex to actually arrive. The best room he could offer was the supposed room for the envoy. He immediately went to the servants and told them the emergency as they prepared suitable rooms for His Majesty.
Rex then went around talking to all the invited lords. He was pretty talkative and boisterous though he had a stern face when he was not saying anything. Reitz's standing among his peers immediately rose. The Duke of Pharae who begrudgingly attended because he wanted to negotiate the terms of the mines looked in reverence at Reitz. The Duke of Loria was envious of the prestige of Reitz and held him in contempt. But all of them fawned over the Rex.
"Your Majesty, are the Primarchs coming as well? Or Primarch Wildfire specifically?" asked the Duke of Pharae, he was the vassal of the Primarch he mentioned.
The Rex began to frown,"No I don't think they are. Why should they be? They are not invited nor is Reitz their vassal."
The Rex's mood dampened as the duke said this. The duke's face paled. But the man beside him whispered in his ear and then he began to become lively again. The reception hall of the guests was at the grand hall of the castle which was redecorated. The masons and artisans reworked the hall and used more magic crystals to light up the hall resulting in a dazzling room that looked liked it was filled with sunlight.
The chatter could be heard across the hall and Aerwyna became anxious as she asked Reitz about the details of why the Rex was in Bren.
"Did you know he was coming?" Aerwyna asked Reitz.
"No I never expected him to come, I thought he detested me ever since I was court-martialed by the tribunal. Yeah, he did like me a lot before then. But I disobeyed his order then and I still will even if I went back in time, looking back. I don't think one thousand men should march toward their deaths like that. I was insistent on that. Thirty Viscounts were enough to take over the hill but indeed you can't make those pompous bastards do anything that dangerous if you could expend a thousand other people. Lives don't matter to those bastards, they think just because they are nobles they are in a higher plane of existence. "Reitz said as his blood boiled,"Heh, I did not command them and those viscounts acted because they were forced to. Two of them died, good riddance I say," Reitz explained with a glint of bloodlust in his eyes.
"Then why is he here?"
"I have no idea, well maybe it's because of Ezra? But I don't think so, news doesn't travel that fast," analyzed Reitz.
"Maybe Catalyna has something to do with this?"
"Really, Aerwyna? Do you think that kidnapper would spread the news about how strong our kid is? I doubt it. She obviously wanted our son to her self or something. I don't really understand why she wanted to abduct Ezra. But one thing is for sure she would not tell anyone about Ezra. "
"What about the rumours?"
"Rumours are rumours, you know that Aerwyna. The commoners don't have anything else to entertain themselves but gossip around. Who actually takes that seriously?"
Aerwyna was on edge because of the Rex's sudden arrival so she went to Ezra's room to inform her son and Sir Evan of the surprise guest.
"Ezra, Evan, the Rex is here," Aerwyna told them in an exasperated voice.
"What? Is his majesty here? I thought Lord Blackfyre fell from his majesty's graces?" asked Evan.
"Hmm, call it mother's intuition but I think he is here to find out about Ezra. How good are you at hiding your aura?" asked Aerwyna as she looked at her son.
"I am not sure mother, I can only let you observe. I don't exactly get input from other people," Ezra replied.
"Well, you need to conceal your magic aura, we don't' want him knowing about you yet. Maybe when you are a little older but now is not the time. We barely got through that incident before, I plead you to lay low for now little one, You haven't exactly been concealing your prowess you know?"
'Well yeah, but those were accidents, and circumstances pushed me to do those things. If I didn't I'd probably be somewhere far away already, woman,' Ezra thought.
"Yes mother, I will try."
"Okay, now try to conceal it."
Ezra obliged as he condensed his magic and tried to dissipate it but it was no good he could not conceal it thoroughly enough.
"That's no good. The ceremony will commence this afternoon. I guess will just have to make sure you don't talk at all. Can you at least do that my baby?"
'Do you think I'm some kind of blabbermouth woman?' Ezra thought as he sighed. Looking back he admitted that he did a lot of things to cause a stir.
"Yes mother, I will."
Aerwyna did not reply and just sighed as she left the room. She was sure that Ezra's Day of Introduction was going to be very eventful.